Finding the Apistogramma cf. agassizii

I have kept the Apistogramma agassizii many times in the past but the elusive Apistogramma cf. agassizii had thus far eluded me.

It was a hot sunny day as our boat plowed through the waters of the Amazon. The captain estimated we would be there in twenty minutes so i leaned against the rail looking for birds in the trees or alligators resting in the shallows. I had seen a snake and a crocodile earlier but at the moment nothing was showing up. A distant bird flew lazily away. We passed from the white waters of the amazon to the dark waters of a lake and continued until i could finally make out houses across the expanse of water.

The shore loomed closer and soon felt firm ground under my feet. I fished along the shores and caught tetras, pencilfish, an acara, and finally an apisto. It was a female cf. agassizii.

I kept fishing along the shore until suddenly an amazing apisto came up in my nets, Apistogramma cf. agassizii!!!

It had a beautiful bluish sheen to it and a brilliant red shoulder.

It imediately went in the bag along with the others . When we got home it was put in a tub but later was transfered to another container.

All in all the Apistogramma cf. agassizii is a rare and gorgeous fish. I think it is prettier then the common A. agassizii and i will be trying to get my hands on these again.